BPOV

After deliberations, Royce King was found guilty of seven of his fifteen charges, one of those charges was for my assault.

His sentencing was set for today. The D.A. explained the sentencing guidelines, and what was possible, but I wasn't sure what to expect.

I was nervous.

I glanced at Edward through the hotel room mirror, he was tying his dress shoes from the bed.

Charlie wanted to come today but I worried he was missing too much work. We had gone back and forth but he relented, agreeing to stay in Forks. He had been beyond supportive during this whole ordeal, but I wanted this moment to be just for me today.

Graduation was in a few weeks and I wanted, no, I needed to face the end of this chapter as an adult.

"Ready?" Edward asks, standing from the bed.

I nod.

I take one last look at my simple black dress.

My hair was partially up, makeup light.

Edward didn't look bad in his black slacks and gray sweater.

I reach up, giving Edward a quick kiss before he takes my hand to leave.

I'm quiet in the car on the way to the courthouse, my emotions have been chaotic since we arrived in Seattle last night.

Edward found me crying in the bathroom in the middle of the night. As he tried to console me, I went from crying to kissing him.

He didn't protest or question my madness, only let me lead the rest of the night.

He was my silent anchor.

I glance at him and see that he's watching me.

"Are you okay?" he asks softly.

I nod.

His frown doesn't go unnoticed by me.

"I promise," I say to reassure him.

We spot Rosalie and Emmett inside the courthouse doors.

Emmett fist bumps Edward before we take our seats toward the back of the courtroom. Rosalie is on the outside of Emmett and I'm on the outside of Edward. The guys chat quietly while Rosalie and I look on.

I'm so caught up in my thoughts about what is going to happen that I don't notice when Edward linked our fingers together.

The bailiff walks in announcing the judge, we all stand.

The entire sentencing happens in a blur.

We're sitting in the gallery, observers to the proceedings.

The judge speaks, but he could be speaking French for all I knew.

He sounds like we're underwater.

I do recognize when they announce Royce's sentence.

Fifteen years with the opportunity to be paroled earlier for good behavior.

Gramps had warned us that this could happen.

Royce's fist connects with the table.

I can hear the word appeal leave his father's mouth through his mother's cries.

I don't realize silent tears are trailing down my cheeks until Edward is brushing them away.

I glance at Rosalie while she watches on stoically. Face set in indifference, no emotions showing.

Her gaze doesn't waiver, it stays on Royce and the spectacle he's making.

The guards are cuffing him as he starts spitting his vitriol.

"You ready to go," Edward murmurs in my ear.

I nod, letting him pull me from the courtroom.

Edward's stride keeps going until we are around the corner of the courthouse.

"I ordered an Uber," he explains. "Thought it was best to wait out here, I didn't want Mr. or Mrs. King to approach you."

"Do you think they would?" I asked horrified.

"After trials like these, people have been known to be— emotionally overwrought with the verdict and sentencing," he explains.

I inhale deeply, closing my eyes before nodding.

"Can we just get back to Forks?" I ask, opening my eyes to see the compassion in his.

"Absolutely."

So many thoughts are bouncing through my mind. I try not to think about the girl I was, I've always thought reflecting on what could have happened was pointless and a waste of time.

I, unfortunately, was a shallow kid who thought nothing bad could happen to me. Was I a little reckless? Maybe I was, but it led me through to the other side.

I'd hate to say it shaped me somehow, but I am sure it did.

I'm trying to be responsible, still not drinking.

Was I this Bella due to Edward's influence or because of what happened to me? Who knew, maybe both?

What I did know is that I wanted to go to UDub in the fall, attempt to live in the dorms my first year, and study psychology. That's what I wanted to accomplish in the next year.

Take it all one day at a time.

I had this opportunity, I wasn't going to let what happened to me loom over me. I couldn't let someone else's choice negatively affect my life.

Edward wasn't one to talk about the future, he was moving into Carlisle's condo here in Seattle. His schedule was already mapped out, he was taking a lot of morning classes. He made sure that his schedule for the first semester classes were only three days a week.

I had an open invitation to stay at his place whenever I wanted, I had a feeling I might be there more than in my dorm.

We were realistic knowing plans could change and that was okay too.

"How are you holding up?" Edward asks, finally breaking the silence when we're packing up.

"I wish he would have gotten the twenty without parole, but that would be a stretch given he got out of some of the charges," I sigh.

He nods.

"You know you're safe though, right?"

I shrug.

"No Bella, even if he gets out for good behavior, you won't have to deal with him. You get to live your life," he says earnestly.

I look into his eyes seeing how much he believes this.

"I know that whatever happens, I might not even be in Washington once he is out," I admit.

If I'm still with Edward in five years, maybe we'll be in Chicago or if I'm not, maybe I'll go to California. Our future wasn't written in stone yet and anything could happen between now and when Royce gets out of prison.

"Have you talked to Emmett?" I ask him.

"He's texted me since we left," he says.

"Rosalie is okay?"

"He said she's quiet, but that's not a bad thing," he says with a snort.

I wonder if it's an inside joke I'm not privy to.

"She was unwavering during the sentencing—Brave," I add.

"You were too," he argues.

I shake my head.

I cried.

Edward moves closer wrapping me in his arms.

"You were brave," he says while I look up at him.

I roll my eyes.

"You were brave, Bella," he repeats.

I feel my resolve start to break.

Tears pool in my eyes.

He leans down, placing a chaste kiss on my lips.

I turn my head slightly.

He curls his pointer finger under my chin.

"I love you," he says softly.

I bring my hands up to cup both sides of his jaw while my thumbs stroke.

"I love you, too," I confess like I have many times before.

Edward is what true first loves should be, pure and untainted.

He is flawed but his love for me isn't, it's easy.

I knew he would do anything for me as I would for him.

He is still navigating everything with his father, but his relationship with him is a testament to his character. He could shut him out, but he hasn't. He has laid out boundaries for their dynamic and I don't think they'll ever be close, but he keeps his father updated on his life.

He likes to say they are a work in progress but his mother says he's way too forgiving. I think that it just shows that Edward is better than his father.

He's not a pushover, he doesn't want to have his sister out there coming to look for him when she's old enough to understand what happened. He doesn't want her to feel hate when she gets here. It isn't her fault that her parents are narcissists.

He kisses my temple before pulling away.

"Let's go home," he says, grabbing our bags.

I follow him out, closing the door, thinking about how Seattle will be our home soon enough.

Maybe it won't be so brutal out here.

A/N: One more chapter before the epilogue. CoppertopJ deserves a huge shout-out for her edits in this chapter. Thanks for reading!